IMPROVED CHARACTERIZATION OF CHROMOPHORES FOR PHOTOREFRACTIVE APPLICATIONS

Recently it was shown that birefringence caused by orientation of chro mophores with anisotropic polarizabilities contributes more to the pho torefractive effect in in situ poled organic materials than do the ele ctro-optic properties of the chromophores. A figure of merit specific to photorefractive applications has been derived, and an experimental procedure for its determination is described in detail. The figure of merit is evaluated for the chromophores used in four of the most histo rically important photorefractive polymers. The chromophore figures of merit and photorefractive material performances are compared and cont rasted. (C) Optical Society of America.